Question : Pension to Sportspersons

(a) whether such cases have come into the notice of the Government when sportspersons winning medals in international competitions have to live in poverty after their retirement from the sports;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to bring about changes in the financial assistance provided under the Medhavi Khiladi Yojana for the pension to sportspersons in view of the rising prices of essential commodities;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [KIREN RIJIJU]

(a) and (b) : The cases of sportsperson living in indigent conditions coming to the notice of the Government and proposals received are proactively processed and financial assistance is provided to such sportspersons under the Scheme of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS). In the current
financial year as on 13.3.2020, assistance of Rs. 59.32 lakh has been sanctioned under PDUNWFS to 15 sportspersons of yesteryears for their medical treatment, ameliorating their financial condition, etc. This Ministry is also implementing Scheme of ‘Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons’ under which sportspersons who are Indian citizens and have won medals in Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Cups/World Championships (in Olympic and Asian Games disciplines) and Paralympic Games, are given lifelong monthly pension ranging from Rs. 12,000 to 20,000 after they attain the age of 30 years or retire from active sports, whichever is later. At present, 627 sportspersons are getting lifelong monthly pension under the scheme.

(c) to (e) : Taking note of inflation, the Government has already revised the rates of pension under the Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons and doubled the rates of pension w.e.f 1.4.2018.

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